The Commission's view

Why a Danube Strategy? And what can CENTROPE contribute? The Commission’s view

by Colin Wolfe, European Commission, Head of Unit for Territorial Cooperation

By linking 14 countries the Commission’s Strategy for the Danube area aims for a new form of cooperation without creating new institutions or bureaucracy. CENTROPE, which has developed the spirit of cooperation over many years can serve as an excellent example and important partner.

The Danube is one of Europe’s most evocative rivers, conjuring up visions of stately waltzes and the elegance of bygone eras. It is also a major artery as it snakes eastwards across the continent from the Black Forest to empty into the Black Sea almost 3,000 kilometres away. The European Commission is now working to develop the huge economic, social and environmental potential of this extensive region based around the EU’s longest river with its unique distinction of flowing through four national capitals – Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade.

By linking 14 countries – eight inside the European Union and six currently outside – the Danube provides a commonality of interest for around 100 million people living within its reach. It cuts across national boundaries and creates a link between different policy areas, such as transport, energy, environment, risk prevention, socio-economic development, education, and national and regional identity and culture. For instance, the Danube river basin hosts more than 300 species of birds, some very rare, and action is urgently needed to ensure their existence is not threatened by industrial and agricultural pollution. The network of inland waterways is also ripe for serious development. Currently, navigation on the Danube represents just 10% of that on the Rhine.

Model region CENTROPE

The strategy also aims for a new form of cooperation for partners in the area, building upon existing activities. Without creating new institutions or bureaucracy, it will draw on the macro-region’s many strengths, looking to maximise them for the benefit of the whole community. One of these partners is CENTROPE, which has developed the spirit of cooperation over many years and has evolved into an excellent example of regional cooperation, linking regions of four countries with four different languages in the heart of Europe. The concrete projects undertaken by CENTROPE show how to move from words to action, in fields such as urban and regional development, innovation policy, ICT co-operation and spatial planning. With its common vision and its concrete projects, like developing and linking metropolitan regions, twinning initiatives in the education sector or a joint report on labour market developments, CENTROPE strengthens the region internally and enables people, institutions and business to move closer together.

The EU Strategy for the Danube Region follows a similar vision to CENTROPE: it is a unique chance to jointly use and develop the enormous economic, cultural and human potential of this macro-region. To make this potential reality, the success of the Danube Strategy will depend on the imaginative and energetic input of key actors in the Region: national, regional and local authorities, the business community, NGOs, civil society and already established cooperation structures such as CENTROPE. The knowledge about the macro-region is with these stakeholders and activities in the frame of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region can make best use of it.